(Reuters) - Former France captain Zinedine Zidane and Italy defender Marco
Materazzi were both fined and banned by FIFA on Thursday after the head-butting
incident that marred the World Cup final on July 9. Zidane, who has retired as
a player, was fined 7,500 Swiss francs (3,260 pounds) and handed a three-match
ban by FIFA's five-man disciplinary committee following his red card for
head-butting Materazzi. As he is no longer a player, he offered to undertake
three days of community service on FIFA's behalf as part of their humanitarian
activities, which the committee accepted.
The Italian defender, who admitted insulting Zidane, provoking the
Frenchman's head-butt, was handed a two-match ban and fined 5,000 Swiss francs
($4,010). He attended a hearing last Friday. The bans apply to international
competitive matches, even though it is a symbolic ban for Zidane who has
confirmed he has no intention of reversing his decision to quit the game.
Materazzi will miss Italy's opening two Euro 2008 qualifiers against Lithuania
on September 2 and, ironically, France on September 6.






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